Toddler Talk

Arielle (mommy):

Very few things make me feel more helpless than when O is frustrated, crying, pointing, trying to tell me something, and I just can't understand what he's trying to say!  At 22 months his vocabulary is growing and he's working on learning to use it to get his needs met.  

Today O's therapist came over to work with him on speech.  He doesn't necessarily have an issue with speech, but he has a diagnosis of "failure to thrive" which qualifies him for occupational therapy (to help with eating) and speech is related to all of that.  Basically the therapists visit him and help make sure he is on track in all areas developmentally.  

I thought it might be helpful to share some of the ideas and information I learned about speech today (and during my 8 years as a teacher) for 1-3 year olds.  

*For the first three years use the rule of thumb a word per year.  1 year olds say one word at a time, 2 year olds say 2 word phrases, 3 year olds use three word phrases.

*By two, children can be expected to say 50 words.

*If your child has certain object words he or she is comfortable with, model adding one word on.  Ex.  O is comfortable saying "ball", so I can model saying "yellow ball" or "small ball" or "my ball."

*Look at books with real life pictures of objects to help build your toddler's vocabulary.  We used Pompoms and had O place them on different pictures and repeat the word after us.  Ex. "Put the pompom on the nose.  Say nose."

*Give your child foods to eat with a variety of textures in order to strengthen different muscles in the mouth..

*Help your little one use an electric toothbrush when brushing teeth.  This can help by stimulating the oral muscles.

*Discontinue pacifier use by 6 months.

*Switch from a bottle to sippy cup by one.  Better yet, have your child use a regular cup.  Also give opportunities to use a straw as well.

*Take pictures of objects around the house to make photo cards to use for naming familiar objects.

*Say words correctly and annunciate the sounds.

*Let your little one explore orally by blowing bubbles, blowing feathers across a table, blowing paint across a paper, and blowing bubbles into water through a straw.

I think the important thing to remember with speech and other milestones is not to get too hung up on what kids should be doing and when.  They really grow at the pace God wants them to.

I'm looking forward to hearing ideas that have worked for others to get their toddlers talking!